Tattoo artists sound off on new safety rules

Frank Tran, owner of Eighth Element Tattoo in Fountain Valley, works on a Victorian-themed tattoo on customer Janette Dang's arm. As a tattoo artist for seven years, Frank has learned the proper procedures for sterilization and safety regulations. New safety regulations going into effect for tattoo artists include having at least two hours of disease training and a requirement for yearly annual permits.KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

COSTA MESA – The sounds of buzzing tattoo machines and rock music will fill the Orange County fairgrounds this weekend for the sixth annual Musink Tattoo Convention and Music Festival, the first since a new state law put stricter safety regulations on the booming body-art industry.

The biggest change will be meeting the requirement that tattoo or piercing booths have hand-washing stations, even if it's a large water bottle and bucket. A medical equipment company is required to be hired to pick up used tattoo needles. And each of the 300 artists expected must have been cleared by an Orange County health agency and acquired a permit.

The regulations in the bill that Gov. Jerry Brown signed last year, which went into effect in July, are an attempt to protect people receiving tattoos from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B.

Since then, some local artists have begun raising prices on services and leaving professional shops because of the new standards, which require annual government permits, health classes and costlier disposable materials.

Tommy Tetreault, owner of Tommy T's Body Piercing in Huntington Beach, said that the higher prices come from more complex safety procedures.

"We didn't know anything about anything. We were learning (piercing) on our own," Tetreault said. "If you're (sanitizing) everything the way you're supposed to be doing it, you have to charge more."

Bill Hardie, founder and promoter of Musink, said in an email that meeting the new requirements has not posed a problem.

"We adhered to all the new health requirements, while taxing and expensive, and 100 percent support better health and safety requirements," he wrote. "I know that sounds odd, but you're getting a tattoo, open skin, blood, needles. We want the best environment for people who attend our event. We are already the cleanest and most sanitary festival around."

SAFETY BODY ACT

Attempts at stronger regulation are not new. Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed multiple bills before Brown signed one, said Pearl Boelter, a manager with Orange County Environmental Health, the government agency overseeing Orange County body-art shops.

Before the law was passed, cross-contamination and unsafe procedures were practiced in some shops because of a lack of education, Tetreault said.

"There had to have been diseases spread because of that," he said. "Hopefully, that will get better in the upcoming years."

Boelter said because of the new act, the health department now has the enforcement tools to prevent unsafe work environments.

Frank Tran, owner of Eighth Element Tattoo in Fountain Valley, works on a Victorian-themed tattoo on customer Janette Dang's arm. As a tattoo artist for seven years, Frank has learned the proper procedures for sterilization and safety regulations. New safety regulations going into effect for tattoo artists include having at least two hours of disease training and a requirement for yearly annual permits. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Frank Tran, owner of Eighth Element Tattoo in Fountain Valley, works on a detail of customer Janette Dang's sleeve. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Tommy T's Body Piercing in Huntington Beach follows a strict code of conduct regarding safety and health procedures, making a daily schedule to clean the piercing zone and to properly sterilize needles in little bags that confirm dead bacteria before being disposed. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Frank Tran, owner of Eighth Element Tattoo in Fountain Valley, works on a detail of customer Janette Dang's sleeve. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Shaun Seidman, a customer at Eighth Element Tattoo in Fountain Valley, displays his in-progress full back tattoo. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Tommy Tetreault, left, owner of Tommy T's Body Piercing in Huntington Beach, applies an ear piercing to customer Rich Seidel in a room that is cleaned daily as a safety precaution for customers. KEVIN LARA, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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